H1 FBI/Security Processing Time

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Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knew anything about the H1B processing time in Islamabad, Pakistan. My fiancee had his interview on September 30th and at the time the woman had accepted his papers and informed him they would return his passport in about 30-35 days once they had completed the final FBI/security check. It has now been over 40 days and I was wondering if this is still okay. In looking at the Islamabad embassy page, they issued a press release on Sept. 25 saying the embassy has finally been able to catch up with much of the backlog and that they anticipated quicker processing times going forward. ANY information would be appreciated as there is not much out there on the Internet. Thank you much.
 
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Hi, Just wondering if you got the security clearance and the via.
Are you still in Pakistan - I know someone in similar situation who is from Pakistan and been waiting in Canada since Sep./Oct. 2002

Any information you could share would be very very helpful.

thx
 
RE: Processing Time for H1B in Pakistan

I am sad to report that he is still waiting in Pakistan. I recently spoke with a friend of mine who worked at the Islamabad embassy for the last two years processing visas as well as spoke with my fiancee's lawyer. Both people said two things, 1) these ridiculous wait times are not uncommon at all and 2) if your passport and information are in Washington DC awaiting the security clearance check there is nothing you can do to expedite this process. The lawyer also said they have someone from Dubai who has been waiting since Sept 2002, a family from Egypt who has been waiting from August 2002, and a woman from China who has been waiting since Dec 2002. So as you can see you are not alone. Another friend of mine DID; however, say something about a recent change, which will allow for expedition of the security check (not sure if it applies to the 15 countries).

I am speaking with another lawyer later next week and plan to find out. I will post any updates as I hear anything. Good luck - for now it seems to be all about patience, though it is alot of patience. Incidentally, when did you have your interview? Also, do you know of any success stories?
 
Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my earlier email - my firend went for the interview on Oct. 15th and he/his family are still waiting for the clearance.

We are also looking for some success stories to get an idea as to how long it is taking for the clearance process to complete.

We know of at least 2 more cases:
1. Female applicant waiting in Dubia for last 4.5 months - she is not even Muslim and is from India
2. Female stuck in India, again not Muslim but her husband works in Dubai/UAE.

Let's hope for the best and pray that we see our loved ones soon and this agonizing wait is short.

Please feel free to share any other information you may have.

thanks again.
 
Thank YOU for sharing your experience as well. I saw that you had also posted in the Pakistan forum too and that Xyco had responded. I know he mentioned that supposedly they had removed the security check process. I have not heard anything like this - have you? As far as I know this process is still in place, per my friend who worked there too, but maybe she is not aware as she left Islamabad last year in the summer. I will definitely follow-up with her and get back to you.

Other than that yes, let us definitely hope for the best for our loved ones. I miss mine very much. I will update you on any information I receive - thanks again.
 
Applying for H1 revalidation in Canada

I had applied for visa revalidation in st. louis but they refused without any understandable reson.
I saw the actual 221(g) form (refusal form) and the reason they cited for denying my application. It says,"Your application is not clearly approvable at this time. Please apply at a consulate abroad."

In plain language that is absurd.

But seriously does anyone know what does "not clearly approvable" mean?

I called the state department about if refusal excluded me from automatic revalidation, i.e., if one comes back from Canada within 30 days. The officer said yes and you would have to apply for a visa before you could come back.

She did mention that I could apply in Canada. I specifically asked her that Pakistanis could not apply in Canada since last year. She said no I could. Then she said I should call some number.
Does anyone know if TCNs (third country nationals) could now apply in Canada?

Alifzee can you tell more detail about your friend who is stuck in Canada. Is he a canadian PR etc. Or if not then what nationality he is from?
 
I am from Pakistan who had O1 approval, which indicated the POE as Toronto, and made an appointment for visa stamping at US consus to late in Toronto. I was told it might take 60 days to get the clearance. I had my interview in Septmber and then in October and I am still waiting................

There is no clear rule. Basically everybody is making there own rules. My lawyer advised me to go to toronto and i was able to get the appointment in July. I know of some people who were either not given an appointment or there appointments were cancelled.

They wouldn't transfer the case to Pakistan either.

So, make sure by calling the US consulate and anyone else who really knows what the actual rules are and if you do go to Toronto, be prepared for the worse and have a contingency plan.

Good luck.
 
Contingency plan

Best option is: never leave until you finally get your GC and then go anywhere, but that is not easy to do. Anyway I have to go for Canadian PR landing.
So I am weighing different options about what to do. I'll probably go to Ottawa as a Canadian permanent resident applying for H1.

Currently I am thinking to just go and land and then come back as a commonwealth country citizen with Canadian PR. (No visa required until March 17, after that visa is required)

Another thing that in my opinion would make a difference is Special Registration. There would probably be different security processing times for people who have registered vs people who appeared for visa interview and had nothing in NSEERS.
 
H1 stamp .. Already did special Registration

I just want to know updates from the people that have posted about getting an H1 stamp please.
I am trying to get mine stamped in Lebanon or Canada and I heard twice that people that did "Special Registration" have faster process of their security clearance!!!
What do you think?

Thanks,
 
H1 stamp .. Already did special Registration

I just want to know updates from the people that have posted about getting an H1 stamp please.
I am trying to get mine stamped in Lebanon or Canada and I heard twice that people that did "Special Registration" have faster process of their security clearance!!!
What do you think?

Thanks,
 
Will be applying in Ottawa consulate

Hello Rabih,

I also went through the process of special registration but I have not applied for visa yet. Earlier I had applied for visa renewal through state department office in Washington, but they refused saying your application is not clearly approvable at this time and advised me to apply at a consulate abroad. At that time I had not registered.
Now, I'll be applying for H1 in Ottawa consulate on 18th of this month. First I'll land in Canada as a permanent resident of Canada and then apply for visa with that status. They only allowed me to appear there because of that status, otherwise the consulate called to cancel my appointment, if I were only a citizen of Pakistan and not a Canadain permanent resident in addition to that.
 
Finally I Got Visa

Hello,

I applied in Ottawa Consulate. I was told that I may have to wait for a long processing time anywhere from one week to 6 weeks. So, I was given my passport and a handout saying that after processing we'll contact you. Next day the officer called and told me that processing was not needed for my case and interviewed over the phone again. At the end, she said bring your passport at 3:00. So I got it the same day.

(I had registered already with INS before appearing for visa interview).
 
Update please

So you did not need to the "security clearance" because you are
-a Canadian PR
or because
-you did the "special registration"?
Did you ask why you did not need it?
I emailed the state department and they replied saying it's taking a max of 6 weeks but they're trying to reduce it to 2 weeks eventually.
Didn't you panic knowing that you might have stayed in Canada for 6 weeks to get an answer?
Thanks again ,
Rabih
:confused:
 
Clueless

I was able to appear there because of PR. Otherwise I would have been told to go apply in Pakistan.
I can only guess about security clearance that it was not needed because of registration but who knows.

Yes, I got worried when it came to six weeks possibility. I was preparing to look for a temporary apartment when I got the phone call from consulate. In a matter of 3-4 hours, whole situation changed and I was making plans to make use of spare time I then had.
 
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